Construction for safety air cushion system

ABSTRACT

The invention is an improvement in inflatable air cushion systems for use as devices to protect passengers in vehicles. Pressure is transferred from an elongated gas container through a nozzle to an inflatable bag or envelope for inflating it. Openings are formed for transferring gas from the container through the nozzle by means of an explosive charge. The improvements of the herein invention reside in that the gas container and transfer means or nozzle are fabricated as separate parts. Spaced openings are provided in the nozzle along its length with solid portions or ribs between the openings. These openings are in the nozzle rather than in part of the elongated tank. The elongated tank and the nozzle are formed as extrusions. These parts are joined together by way of tongue and groove joints that form a strong joint preventing failure of the tank resulting from pressure.

United States Patent [191 Mazelsky [54] CONSTRUCTION FOR SAFETY AIRCUSHION SYSTEM [75] Inventor: Bernard Mazelsky, West Covina,

Calif.

[73] Assignee: ARA, Inc., West Covina, Calif.

[22] Filed: Aug. 19, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 65,019

[52] US. Cl. ..280/150 AB, 220/23.4, 222/3 [5 1] Int. Cl ..B 60r 21/08[58] Field of Search ...280/150 AB; 220/85, 72, 23.4; 222/3, 85

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,429,583 2/1969 Martin etal ..280/150 2,813,664 11/1957 Punte ..220/85 3,231,152 1/1966 McKiever..222/394 3,514,124 5/1970 Richardson ..280/150 3,588,142 6/1971 German..280/150 3,425,586 2/1969 Petters et al.... ..220/23.4

2,834,606 5/1958 Bertrand ..280/150 [451 Jan. 2, 1973 2,944,701 7/1960Hatanaka ..222/3X Primary Examiner-Kenneth l-l. Betts Attorney-l-lerzigand Walsh [5 7 ABSTRACT The invention is an improvement in inflatableair cushion systems for use as devices to protect passengers invehicles. Pressure is transferred from an elongated gas containerthrough a nozzle to an inflatable bag or envelope for inflating it.Openings are formed for transferring gas from the container through thenozzle by means of an explosive charge. The improve ments of the hereininvention reside in that the gas container and transfer means or nozzleare fabricated as separate parts. Spaced openings are provided in thenozzle along its length with solid portions or ribs between theopenings. These openings are in the nozzle rather than in part of theelongated tank. The elongated tank and the nozzle are formed asextrusions. These parts are joined together by way of tongue and groovejoints that form a strong joint preventing failure of the tank resultingfrom pressure.

15 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTED M 2 m5 SHEET 1 BF 2 I N VEN TOR.die/14420 mzam CONSTRUCTION FOR SAFETY AIR CUSHION SYSTEM SUMMARY OF THEINVENTION The invention is directed to improvements in inflatable safetyair cushion systems of the type adapted for use in vehicles to protectpassengers in the event of accidents.

A system of this type is disclosed in the application of the hereininventor, Ser. No. 885,601 filed on Dec. 16, 1969. In a system of theprior application, an elongated tank is provided with elongated transfermeans in the form of a nozzle for transferring gas from the tank to theinflatable bag or envelope. A relatively thin diaphragm is formed in thetank which is ruptured or opened by an explosive charge for transferringgas to the inflatable envelope. The herein invention embracesimprovements in the construction in the manner of fabrication of thetank and the nozzle assembly. In the device of the application referredto, the explosive charge produces openings in the diaphragm along thelength of the elongated container, that is spaced openings with ribs orsolid portions between them. Such ribs are required for the necessarystrength of the tank or pressure vessel.

In the improved construction of the herein invention, the elongated tankand transfer means or nozzle are formed as separate parts and thenjoined by tongue and groove joints. The transfer means or nozzle has apart which is jointed to the tank which part itself is provided withspaced, elongated openings with solid portions or ribs between them.

The tank and nozzle are joined in such a way as described in detailherein, that the ribs serve the same which interfit together by way ofrelative, axial sliding movement of the two parts. A further improvementresides in the removal of material from the rupturable diaphragm atspaced points adjacent to the explosive charge, whereby the effect ofthe charge is enhanced by providing an accurate stand-off distancebetween the linear shaped chargeand the diaphragm section which is to beruptured.

The improvements as referred to are important from the standpoint offacilitating fabrication and construction; from the standpoint ofstrength of the parts; and from the standpoint of economy. A primaryobjective of the invention is to realize these improved characteristicsin the construction. The elongated tank and transfer nozzle arepreferably in the form 'of extrusions which facilitates fabrication andproduction. The tongue and groove joint between the parts as describedenhances the strength, particularly with respect to the tank, in thearea adjacent to the rupturable diaphragm and prevents the tank fromspreading at that area. The realization of this additional strength is afurther object of this invention.

2 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Further objects and additionaladvantages of the invention will become apparent from the followingdetailed description and annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a pictorial view showing the installed position of the safetyinflatable air cushion device in a vehicle;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view, partly broken away, of I DESCRIPTION OFTHE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 illustrates a typical installationillustrating a safety device or system as indicated at 12. Upon beingactivated, the device inflates to a position as illustrated in FIG. 1.As shown in FIG. 2, the gas container 14 of the device is cylindrical,the bag 16 normally being folded or collapsed as shown with the diffusernozzle 18 between the container and the folded bag. The arrangement asshown is preferable to arrangements wherein the gas container is withinthe bag itself.

The system is controlled by a deceleration responsive sensor that may bemounted in a position ahead of the firewall as shown whereby to respondrapidly to deceleration forces when the vehicle enters an impactsituation. Sensor 20 may be of a conventional or typical typeenergizable by way of battery 22.

FIG. 1 shows the bag 16 inflated in a position in front of thepassenger. The bag, of course, may have a transverse dimensionsufficient to provide safety for one or more passengers in the frontseat.

FIGS. 2, 3, 4, and 5 show a preferred arrangement of the parts. Thediffuser nozzle 18 has a rear part 26, the diffuser diverging asshown;to the bag 16. as may be seen, the tank orcontainer 14 iselongated as is the diffuser nozzle 18 extending along the length of thebag 16. The gas container and diffuser nozzle can of course be made tobe less than or coextensive in length with the bag. Tank- 14 iscylindrical having welded hemispherical ends as shown at 15 for maximumstrength. The ends are concave as shown. Numeral l7 designates athreaded fitting in the end or head 15.

The tank 14 and the nozzle 18 are fabricated as separate parts and inthe preferred form of the invention, the parts as shown in FIG. 3 areextrusions formed of suitable material for the purpose. The use of theextrusion process in the fabrication of course facilitates production.The nozzle assembly includes two end pieces, one of which is designatedby the numeral 30 in the figures. These pieces are arcuate as shown,tapering in the same manner as the main part of the nozzle and thesepieces have straight edges as shown at 32 and 34 which as shown abutagainst end edges of the main nozzle part and may be secured to the tank14 by welding as shown at 36in FIG. 2.

The tank 14 and the nozzle 18 are mutually configurated as may be seenin FIGS. 3 and 8 to provide a tongue and groove joint as between theseparts. The joint can be made by sliding these parts relatively axiallywith respect to each other. It will be observed that the base part ofthe nozzle 18 has an inward arcuate depression as may be seen at 40.Onopposite sides, it has the grooves as shown at 42 and 42a, extendingalong its length. Both of these grooves are dovetailed at the base partof the groove as may be seen. The tank 14 on that side on which thenozzle is joined is thickened as may be observed at 46. At the inside ofthe thickened portion, is an arcuate depression 48 extending along thelength of the tank. The thickened portion 46 has an opening in it whichincludes a neck part 50 and extending side wing parts or openings asdesignated at 52 and 52a. The tank 14 has extending dovetailed tongues54 and 54a which are shaped to be received and to fit into thedovetailed grooves 42 and 42a in the nozzle base 26. The nozzle 18 has anarrow neck part which is between the openings or grooves 42 and 42a asdesignated at 56 and extending from this narrow part are extensions ortongues as designated at 58 and 580 which are shaped to be received inthe openings or grooves 52 or 52a in the tank 14. As pointed out, thejoint between the tank 14 andthe nozzle 18 may be formed by slidingthese parts relatively to each other axially to form a joint as shown inFIGS. 3 and 8. It will be observed, that the recess 48 formed in thethickened part 46 of the tank 14 comes opposite the arcuate recess 40 inthe nozzle 18. I

As pointed out, the nozzle 18 is formed by extrusion. After beingextruded, spaced, elongated holes or openings'as designated at 62 areformed in the narrow neck portion 56 of the nozzle as shown. Theseopenings may be readily formed by means of conventional machine toolswhich simply punch these holes or at 30. Adjacent to this rib andextending completely openings in spaced positions. These openings arefor the transfer or transmission of gas under pressure from the tankinto the envelope for inflating as will be described. The, manufacturingprocess is greatly facilitated by providing these openings in the nozzlemember itself rather than that they be formed in the tank. Theribsbetween openings are imperatively necessary to provide the necessarystrength.

The material of the tank at the position of the .arcuate depression48'forms a thin diaphragm of arcuate cross section as shown which isopposite the arcuate depression in the nozzle l8 a s previouslydescribed. An elongated shaped charge'as designated'at 66 ispositionedalong .the lengthof the bottom of the arcuate recess 40 in thenozzle, that is, in a position along the thin diaphragm 48aformed in thethickened part 46 of the tank 14 as described. The shaped charge may beof a known commercial type marketed as Linear Shaped Charge. For besteffectiveness of the shaped charge, it is desired that it be spacedslightly from the diaphragm 48a which is to be ruptured or opened by theshaped charge as shown in FIG. 8.- To facilitate this purpose, surfaceportions of the diaphragm 48a are machined off at intervals to makethese portions thinner and to space them from the shaped charge asillustrated at 70 in FIG. 4 and as may be seen in FIGS. 3, 4, 5, and 6.

The inflatable envelope or bag 16 can be made of any suitable gasimpervious fabric material. Preferably, it is secured to the nozzle 18in the manner illustrated around the nozzle discharge is formed a groove74. The bag opening is of a size to fit around the periphery of thedischarge part of the nozzle. Edge portions of the bag are received inthe'continuous, peripheral groove as shown and then they are held in thegroove by a continuous, flexible resilient holding member 76 thatengages in the groove holding the edge portions of the bag in positionas shown.

From the foregoing, those skilled in the art will readi- I ly understandthe nature and the construction of the invention and the manner in whichit realizes all of the objectives as set forth in the foregoing. Theconstruction is one particularly calculated as set forth in theforegoing to simplify fabrication, production and assembly and to at thesame time improve qualities of the finished product from the standpointof strength and economy. 1

Having reference to the joint between tank and the nozzle assembly, itwill be observed that the parts are held firmly together. Because of thetongue and groove relationship at the joint, the pressure in the tank isprevented from spreading the thickened part of the tank assemblyoutwardly away from the nozzle; the tongues will not pull out of theirgrooves because of the dovetailed construction. Thus, inadvertentbursting at this point is avoided. Further, the assembly is strengthenedbecause of the base of the nozzle and the tank being mutually joined bythe tongue and groove joint with ribs between gas openings being in thebase part of the nozzle. v

The foregoing disclosure is representative of a preferred form of theinvention and is to be interpreted in an illustrative rather than in alimiting sense, the invention to be accorded the full scope of theclaims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

1. In a safety device for human protection comprising an envelopeinflatable with a gas whereby to form a resilient cushion and having anelongated container under pressure, with means to provide elongatedpassageway means along the length of the containerfor transferring gasfrom the container to the envelope for inflating it, the improvementcomprising the said container and the transfer means having partsforming a dovetail type tongue and groove joint securing the containerand transfer means" together along the length of the container.

2. A device as in claim 1, wherein said parts are constructed to make itpossible to join the parts by relative longitudinal movement along thelength of the joint.

3. A device as in claim 1, wherein the parts forming the tongue andgroove joint are extrusions.

4. A device as in claim 1, wherein interfitting tongues and grooves areformed on both of the parts.

5. A device as in claim 1, wherein said transfer means comprises anozzle having a plurality of openings communicating with the containerwith. solid portions between the openings.

6. A device as in claim 5, wherein said container has a diaphragmportion adapted to be ruptured by an explosive charge positioned toprovide a gas release channel communicating with said openings in thenozzle.

7. A device as in claim 6, wherein said inflatable envelope has portionssecured to the periphery of the nozzle, the nozzle periphery having agroove therein and spring retainer means engageable in. the groovewhereby to secure edge portions of the envelope between the springretainer means and the nozzle.

8. A device as in claim 1, whereby'said tongue and groove jointcomprises tongues and grooves formed on the container and tongues andgrooves formed on the transfer means, the tongues and grooves havingmutually intertitting engagement.

9. A device as in claim 1, wherein the tongue and groove joint comprisesinterfitting tongues and grooves configurated to providev interfittingrelationship whereby to prevent spreading of the parts of the containerat the area of the joint.

10. In a safety device for human protection comprising an envelopeinflatable with a gas whereby to form a resilient cushion and having anelongated gas container under pressure, with means to provide anelongated passageway means along the length of the container fortransferring the gas from the container to the envelope for inflatingit, the improvement comprising the said container and the transfer meansbeing separately formed parts joined together along the length of thecontainer, the transfer means comprising a nozzle having a plurality ofopenings communicating with the container with solid portions betweenthe openings, the

container having a rupturable area adjacent said openings.

11. A device as in claim 10, wherein said container and transfer meanscomprise extrusions.

12. In a safety device for human protection comprising an envelopeinflatable with a gas whereby to form a resilient cushion and having anelongated gas container under pressure, with means to provide anelongated passageway means along the length of the container fortransferring the gas from the container to the envelope for inflatingit, the improvement comprising the said container and the transfer meansbeing separately formed parts joined together, the transfer meanscomprising a nozzle having a plurality of openings communicating withthe container with solid portions between the openings and a rupturablediaphragm formed in the container adjacent to said openings.

13. A device as in claim 12, including an elongated shaped chargepositioned between the diaphragm and the said openings.

'14. A device as in claim 13, wherein the thickness of the diaphragmopposite the openings is reduced providing a space between the diaphragmand the charge.

15. In a safety device for human protection comprising an envelopeinflatable with a gas whereby to form a resilient cushion and having anelongated gas container under pressure, with means to provide anelongated passageway means along the length of the container fortransferring the gas from the container to the envelope for inflatingit, the improvement comprising the said container and the transfer meansbeing separately formed parts joined together, the transfer meanscommaaigszrre aasi rflill lom ifrtl assess the openings, said nozzlecomprising an intermediate part and end closures secured to theintermediate part and to the container;

1. In a safety device for human protection comprising an envelopeinflatable with a gas whereby to form a resilient cushion and having anelongated container under pressure, with means to provide elongatedpassageway means along the length of the container for transferring gasfrom the container to the envelope for inflating it, the improvementcomprising the said container and the transfer means having partsforming a dovetail type tongue and groove joint securing the containerand transfer means together along the length of the container.
 2. Adevice as in claim 1, wherein said parts are constructed to make itpossible to join the parts by relative longitudinal movement along thelength of the joint.
 3. A device as in claim 1, wherein the partsforming the tongue and groove joint are extrusions.
 4. A device as inclaim 1, wherein interfitting tongues and grooves are formed on both ofthe parts.
 5. A device as in claim 1, wherein said transfer meanscomprises a nozzle having a plurality of openings communicating with thecontainer with solid portions between the openings.
 6. A device as inclaim 5, wherein said container has a diaphragm portion adapted to beruptured by an explosive charge positioned to provide a gas releasechannel communicating with said openings in the nozzle.
 7. A device asin claim 6, wherein said inflatable envelope has portions secured to theperiphery of the nozzle, the nozzle periphery having a groove thereinand spring retainer means engageable in the groove whereby to secureedge portions of the envelope between the spring retainer means and thenozzle.
 8. A device as in claim 1, whereby said tongue and groove jointcomprises tongues and grooves formed on the container and tongues andgrooves formed on the transfer means, the tongues and grooves havingmutually interfitting engagement.
 9. A device as in claim 1, wherein thetongue and groove joint comprises interfitting tongues and groovesconfigurated to provide interfitting relationship whereby to preventspreading of the parts of the container at the area of the joint.
 10. Ina safety device for human protection comprising an envelope inflatablewith a gas whereby to form a resilient cushion and having an elongatedgas container under pressure, with means to provide an elongatedpassageway means along the length of the container for transferring thegas from the container to the envelope for inflating it, the improvementcomprising the said container and the transfer means being separatelyformed parts joined together along the length of the container, thetransfer means comprising a nozzle having a plurality of openingscommunicating with the container with solid portions between theopenings, the container having a rupturable area adjacent said openings.11. A device as in claim 10, wherein said container and transfer meanscomprise extrusions.
 12. In a safety device for human protectioncomprising an envelope inflatable with a gas whereby to form a resilientcushion and having an elongated gas container under pressure, with meansto provide an elongated passageway means along the length of thecontainer for transferring the gas from the container to the envelopefor inflating it, the improvement comprising the said container and thetransfer means being separately formed parts joined together, thetransfer means comprising a nozzle having a plurality of openingscommunicating with the container with solid portions between theopenings and a rupturable diaphragm formed in the container adjacent tosaid openings.
 13. A device as in claim 12, including an elongatedshaped charge positioned between the diaphragm and the said openings.14. A device as in claim 13, wherein the thickness of the diaphragmopposite the openings is reduced providing a space between the diaphragmand the charge.
 15. In a safety device for human protection comprisingan envelope inflatable with a gas whereby to form a resilient cushionand having an elongated gas container under pressure, with means toprovide an elongated passageway means along the length of the containerfor transferring the gas from the container to the envelope forinflating it, the improvement comprising the said container and thetransfer means being separately formed parts joined together, thetransfer means comprising a nozzle having a plurality of openingscommunicating with the container with solid portions between theopenings, said nozzle comprising an intermediate part and end closuressecured to the intermediate part and to the container.